SSI, or Supplemental Security Income, is a federal program that provides monthly cash payments to people in need. SSI is for people who are 65 or older, as well as for blind or disabled people of any age, including children.
To qualify you also must have little or no income and few resources. This means that the value of the things you own must be less than $2,000 if you are single or less than $3,000 if you are married. The value of your home does not count if you live in it. Usually, the value of your car does not count. And the value of certain other resources, such as a burial plot, may not count either.
To receive SSI, you also must apply for any other cash benefits you may be able to get.
You must live in the United States or Northern Mariana Islands to receive SSI. If you are not a U.S. citizen, but you are lawfully residing in the United States, you still may be able to receive SSI. For more information, ask for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) For Noncitizens (Publication No. 05-11051).
The state of Massachusetts adds money to the federal payment. The single payment you get in the beginning of each month includes both the federal SSI payment and your supplement from Massachusetts.
If you receive SSI, you usually can get medical assistance (MassHealth) automatically. If you have questions about MassHealth, contact your local Transitional Assistance office for disabled and aged recipients and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind for blind individuals.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
If you receive SSI, you may be able to get help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. SNAP can help you buy more food without spending more money. However, Social Security does not decide if you qualify for SNAP. If you live in a household where everyone is applying for or receiving SSI, you can apply for SNAP at a Social Security office. If not, you must apply at your local Department of Transitional Assistance office.
Other services you may be able to get through your local county assistance office include:
- Information, referrals and follow-up;
- Homemaker and chore services;
- Community placement services; and
- Rehabilitation services
For more information, contact your local Department of Transitional Assistance office or Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.
These amounts include both federal and state payments combined. Not all SSI recipients receive the maximum amount. Your payment may be lower if you have other income.
| Category | 2012 Total Monthly Payment | |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Couple* | |
| Living alone | ||
| Aged | $826.82 | $1,249.72 |
| Disabled | $812.39 | $1,228.06 |
| Blind | $847.74 | $1,695.48 |
| Sharing living expenses | ||
| Aged | $737.26 | $1,249.72 |
Disabled |
$728.40 | $1,228.06 |
| Blind | $847.74 | $1,694.48 |
| Living in someone else's household | ||
| Aged | $569.70 | $914.47 |
| Disabled | $552.92 | $868.18 |
| Blind | $847.74 | $1,695.47 |
| Living in a licensed rest home | ||
| Aged | $991.00 | $1,982.00 |
| Disabled | $991.00 | $1,982.00 |
| Blind | $847.74 | $1,695.48 |
| Living in a Medicaid facility | ||
| Aged, disabled or blind | $72.80 | $145.60 |
| Living in an assisted living facility | ||
| Aged, disabled or blind | $1,152.00 | $1,729.00 |
| *Amounts given apply when both members of couple belong to same eligibility category. When members belong to different eligibility categories, we add the two respective individual benefits to determine the total amount of the couple's benefit. | ||
Our website is a valuable resource for information about all of Social Security’s programs. There are a number of things you can do online.
In addition to using our website, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. We treat all calls confidentially. We can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call during the week after Tuesday. We can provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. (You can use our automated response system to tell us a new address or request a replacement Medicare card.) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.
We also want to make sure you receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls.
